Prof Jamie Frankis, Prof Claudia Estcourt
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Studentship Ref: SHLS2018009
eHealth (electronically delivered healthcare1) is a key global health strategy, but evidence of effectiveness is lacking. eHealth could transform the provision of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis medication (PrEP) to reduce HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM), the UK group at highest risk of HIV2. PrEP requires regular monitoring, pressurising already over-stretched sexual health services. An automated ‘ePrEP’ clinic for ‘routine’ patients could release face-to-face capacity for patients with complex needs.
Aim: Explore the theoretical basis, development, acceptability, and likely uptake of complex eHealth interventions, using ePrEP for MSM as an exemplar.
Research questions
1. How have eHealth services been operationalised?
2. Which constructs underpin successful eHealth clinical interventions?
3. How do MSM access the internet for health usage?
4. What is the acceptability and feasibility of an ePrEP clinic among MSM, clinicians and commissioners?
5. In what format will an ePrEP clinic achieve maximal user engagement?
Methods
1. Review of studies of online sexual health services (RQ1) and critical appraisal using Michie’s Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy3 (RQ2).
2. Secondary analysis of SMMASH34 data (RQ3).
3. Qualitative interviews with key stakeholders to explore ePrEP development (RQ4).
4. Recommendations for content, presentation and functionality of an ePrEP clinic (RQ5).
Specific requirements of the project:
Experience of quantitative and qualitative research and analysis is desirable and understanding of MSM’s sexual health, eHealth interventions, clinical service development and PrEP would be advantageous.
Funding Notes
The studentship of £19,300 pa is for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress. The studentship covers payment of tuition fees (currently £4,500 for UK/EU students or £15,000 for International students) plus annual stipend of £14,800 for UK/EU students or annual scholarship of £4,300 for International students.
Applicants will normally hold a UK honours degree 2:1 (or equivalent); or a Masters degree in a subject relevant to the research project. Equivalent professional qualifications and any appropriate research experience may be considered. A minimum English language IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) with no element below 6.0 is required.
References
1 Eng, T. (2004) Population health technologies: Emerging innovations for the health of the public. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2014, 26:3.237-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2003.12.004
2 Yin Z, Brown A, Hughes G, et al. HIV in the United Kingdom: 2014 report. London: Public Health England, 2014
3 Michie, S. et al The Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (v1) of 93 Hierarchically Clustered Techniques: Building an International Consensus for the Reporting of Behavior Change Interventions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2013; 46:1.81-95
4 Frankis, J., Estcourt, C., McDaid, L. and Flowers, P. SMMASH3: The 3rd Social Media, Men who have sex with men, Sexual and Holistic Health Survey: an online study of MSM in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland recruited via sociosexual media, planned research study: Glasgow Caledonian University/Glasgow University, 2019
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